Becoming Active Citizens

January 13, 2009

MLK Day of Service

"What are you doing for others?" According to Martin Luther King, Jr. that's "life's most persistent and urgent question." President-elect Barack Obama and vice president-elect Joe Biden are taking this question to heart; the day before their inauguration, they will participate in the MLK Day of Service in Washington, DC. Moreover, Obama has asked Americans to join him and to be "active citizens."

Students, faculty, and staff from the University of Pennsylvania Law School plan to heed the call again this year.

On January 19th, members of the Penn Law community will partner with Philadelphia-area organizations to complete those odd jobs non-profit organizations don't always have the resources to undertake, like cleaning, organizing, and painting. Groups that will benefit from Penn Law muscle include Philadelphia VIP, Philadelphia Reads, and Philabundance.

The first King Day of Service was held in Philadelphia in 1996. Last year some 60,000 volunteers participated in nearly 600 service projects across the region.

"All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

Come prove the content of your character. To find out more about how to participate in uplifting humanity with painstaking excellence, contact Jennifer Pesavento in the Toll Public Interest Center at 215-898-0955.